• I .. a <itl)~ttliau ~tttr; 1 o 1 3. Would you not be found in the praEtice of the power ofgodlinefs? Oh rhen fall clofe to Clofet-Pray– er : Alas,firs, hearingSermons., reading Scriptures, dif- ' courfing r~ligioufly,pra:ying in the family, 1nay bedone only.for fafhion fake, and t~e per(~n that doth them, may have no more than the f~.rm of godlinefs: Miftak~ me nor, I do not conde111n the practice of thefe, por them that do them, as Forma lifts for"that: God forbid, theyare Scripture duties, but theou·tward pat t of rhefe may be done without the power of godJinefs·, ·bu't to firuggle with a man's own heart, ~o w_refUe with God. iri a Corner,to meditate andgiveU'p.a mans felf to thefe duties,as in the prefence of God; . oh, this fhews fame– thing of the,power of grace, and life of holin~fs. This is heart-work, and that's hard y:ork, coftlyduties,fpi;-– ritual exercifes, which is more thiui.to offer G_od thou-: fands of Rams, or a firft..,born. Son : Davidwo~.dd. no~ I off et that to God that coft him nothing; at)d fh~ll we· be contentv/ith the ordinary duties whic~ may be con'· ftftent w'ithan eafie plodding formaUty ? , . . 4· Woufd younor haveyour hearts eafed mid~r pref: ng btirdens? Are you id love \Vith yotir"forrows? would you not be rid ofthem? Behold,I fhewuntoy~ excellent way to get eafe~which is a recourfet~ God nfecret Prayer! I have heard fome preciuu~ Ghr~fi:h1ns y., that wh~11' any thing bath ly~n upo~ theiY hearts, · y to overwhelm them, ~hey have run tci God in a rner, and there have left their load; and thence have e,wi:ch go·od Hannah, and have been no more fa4, : nd experience tells u:s, tha't whenany pre~ng afHitlin liesupon us, if w~ can unbofom' ou·r ielves to an inti · ate friend, thou,gh not ~( word ofcounfel or comfor~. from:him·; yet that opeRing ~f our heart~ ' doth; voiniting_doi:h an oppreffed ftomaci}·~ An4hence it~ 1~~~ . f wilt fjie~~ th~t I t!l"'Y b~ refrefl:ed :.~ncl . . backs th1s,- tn Ph~t. 4.6. Be care[Hlln not
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